Matthew MacFayden is an English actor who became widely known on the TV screen through the character of MI5 Intelligence officer Tom Quinn in the BBC television drama series Spooks (also known as MI-5).

In 2005 he starred in the British romance film Pride & Prejudice as one of the main characters, Fitzwilliam Darcy. The performance would earn him a nomination from the London Film Critics Circle Award for Best British Newcomer of the Year.

In 2008 Macfayden signed on to star in the historical political drama Frost/Nixon, acting as former BBC Director-General John Birt. The role was one of a handful which earned the entire cast a SAG Award nomination at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild ceremony.

A few years later, Matthew furthered his film career by taking on roles in two high-profile action-adventure films. The first, 2010's Robin Hood, had him acting opposite the title character of Russell Crowe as the Sheriff of Nottingham, the movie's primary villain. The next year, he joined Luke Evans & Ray Stevenson on the big screen as one of the The Three Musketeers (Athos) in the 3D reboot directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.